Have you ever heard that little voice in your head saying
"There must be something wrong with me." It usually speaks to
us after a mistake, a sin, or a rejection from someone. It's the lying
voice of the enemy of course, but it sounds a whole lot like our own.
John 8:44c says about Satan, Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from
his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
That thought, that voice, that accusation is the spirit of
shame. It's not the same as being ashamed of something I did. This
is different because this is about who I am. This kind of shame is a
gnawing feeling, deep down that says "I am defective."
It's very closely related to condemnation. Condemnation whispers
to us that because of what we did, we are messed up in the core of who we are.
When we sin, the Holy Spirit points out to us that we didn't live like
who we are in Christ. On the other hand, condemnation is relentless in
trying to convince us that our identity is fatally flawed. It leads us away
from the truth of our identity in Christ to an identity defined by failure.
If we listen to it long enough, it will eventually tell us that we are
probably not a Christian at all!
That is why we all love Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It's fascinating that
this verse follows a chapter in which the Apostle Paul shared with us how much
sin defeated him, even though he hated doing it every single time! Now
that's encouraging.
We are not under condemnation because God crucified our
shame-based identity in Adam which genuinely was defective and messed up.
Then He buried it in the grave forever with Jesus according to Romans
6:6. Knowing this that our old self was crucified that we should no
longer be slaves to sin. Then He resurrected us as new
creations, with a grace-based identity in Christ. God says we are now perfect
according to Hebrews 10:14. For by one offering He has perfected for
all time those who are sanctified.
No way does this mean we will live sinless lives. It does
mean that our sin, mistakes, upbringing, abuse, or anything else cannot define
us.
Do you operate from a shame-based identity because of your
past?
Do you operate from a shame-based identity because of your
family?
Do you operate from a shame-based identity because of that sin you
can't stop doing?
Do you operate from a shame-based identity because you are
divorced?
Do you operate from a shame-based identity because (you fill in
the blank)?
God has crucified your shame-based identity and exchanged it for a
grace-based identity in Christ. Galatians 2:20 speaks to this, I
have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Why don't you pray right now and tell God that you are choosing to
believe that your shame-based identity died on the cross with Jesus and you are
now embracing your grace-based identity. Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is
a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
(2nd Corinthians 5:17)
And as always, we are here to help in person or virtually.
Why don't you at least have a consultation with us? Life is way too short
to live under the oppression of a shame-based identity.
Believe it! It's the Gospel.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!
